Gas-burning wall fireplace

ABSTRACT

A gas-burning wall fireplace, mountable on a wall and having a frame with a log display area and a heat exchange chamber located above said log display area with a sealed combustion unit therein, an air flow passage through said chamber including an outlet extending across and beneath the log display area, blower means for inducing air flow through the air passage with cool air entering near the top of the fireplace, and a decorative hood which can be removed for access to the blower means and the combustion unit.

United States Patent Derringer et al.

GAS-BURNING WALL FIREPLACE Inventors: Ray Derringer, Port Edwards; Francis L.

Faehling, Wisconsin Rapids, both of Wis.

Preway Inc.

Jan. 30, 1970 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,749,905 6/1956 Johnson ..126/1l0 X [151 3,654,913 51 Apr. 11, 1972 3,120,225 2/1964 Stark et al. ..l26/l 10 B 3,159,157 12/1964 Ponto ..126/l27 X 3,l75,552 3/1965 Sutton ..l26/l2l 3,533,394 10/1970 Rose et al. ..l26/l21 Primary Examiner-Charles J. Myhre Att0rney--Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & McCord [5 7] ABSTRACT 1 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 21 all f 36 e3 le s20 (32 l 7 -61 a ll 31 l{ a2 a g l l f \Q l: i 1 h "2;: 4* 26 47 GAS-BURNING WALL FIREPLACE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a gas-burning wall fireplace which provides the decorative effects of a conventional fireplace while providing a flow of air heated by a combustion unit within the casing of the fireplace.

Typical of the known prior art is Ponto US. Pat. No. 3,159,157 wherein a fireplace has components associated therewith for heating air. In this patent, air heating components are located in positions requiring a depth for the fireplace greater than that required for the log display area of the fireplace. The heated air is not directed out from the lower part of the fireplace where it is most needed.

SUMMARY An object of this invention is to gas-burning wall fireplace.

Another object of this invention is to provide a gas-burning wall fireplace having a frame providing a log display area at the lower part thereof and a heat exchange chamber above the log display area with a sealed combustion unit therein and with means for inducing air flow along a path through the heat exchange chamber and through a passage rearwardly of the log display area to a discharge outlet extending along the width of the log display area and therebeneath to discharge heated air into a room at the lower part of the fireplace.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gas-burning wall fireplace as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the blower is mounted at the upper end of the heat exchange chamber and the chamber and combustion unit both have access doors and all of these components are enclosed by a decorative hood having a front and rearwardly extending sides attachable to the frame and with said hood being removable for access to said components for service thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a gas-burning wall fireplace, as defined in the preceding paragraphs wherein the air passage is in part defined by a rear wall of the log display area, with the result that said wall is heated to provide a radiant heat surface and wherein the fireplace has concentric ducts extendible through a mounting wall providing combustion air for the sealed combustion unit and an exhaust path for combustion gases.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of the wall fireplace; and

FIG. 2 is a central vertical section, from front to rear of the gas-burning wall fireplace, on an enlarged scale and shown mounted on a wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The gas-burning wall fireplace is shown generally in FIG. 1 wherein a frame, more particularly described in connection with FIG. 2, defines a log display area at the lower end of the fireplace, with a warm air outlet 11 extending along the width of the log display area therebeneath and with a hood l2 overlying the upper part of the frame to close off the space housing components of the gas-burning wall fireplace.

The gas-burning wall fireplace is shown mounted on a wall W, in FIG. 2, with the frame having a back wall with hooks 21, one of which is shown in FIG. 2, mounting the fireplace on coacting members mounted on the wall W. One of these members in the form of an eye is indicated at 22. The back wall 20 extends for substantially the entire height of the fireplace and,

provide a new and improved gas-burning at its lower end, mounts forwardly extending side walls, one of which is shown at in FIG. 1. Interiorly of the spaced-apart side walls, the log display area 10 is defined by a bottom hearth 26; a rear wall 27; a partial top wall defined by a bottom wall 29 of a heat exchange chamber to be described and a pair of side walls, one of which is indicated at 30, and which are positioned interiorly of the outer side walls 25.

A front panel 31 for the fireplace disposed beneath the hood 12 has an opening 32 and a draw screen can be mounted within the opening to further similate an actual fireplace.

A heat exchange chamber is located above the log display area 10 and includes a portion of the back wall 20; a front wall 35, spaced from the back wall; the bottom wall 29, previously described; a top wall 36, having an air inlet opening 37; and a pair of enclosing side walls, one of which is shown in FIG. 2 at 38. Cool air can enter the chamber through the opening 37 and the air flows past a sealed combustion unit, indicated generally at 40, the air then flowing through an outlet 41 in the bottom wall 29 of the heat exchange chamber. The heated air then flows through a passage between the back wall 27 of the log display area and the rear wall 20, downwardly to the bottom of the fireplace wherein the heated air changes direction and flows forwardly to the discharge outlet 11, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2. The discharge outlet 11 is at the end of a horizontally extending passage, defined by top and bottom walls 45 and 46, respectively, interconnected by spaced-apart side walls, one of which is indicated at 47, and with there being suitable openings in the top wall 45 to permit communi cation with the vertical part of the air passage between the back wall 27 and rear wall 20.

Blower means for inducing air flow through the air passage and past the sealed combustion unit 40, as shown in FIG. 2, comprises a fan 50 driven by a motor 51 and mounted on a mounting bracket 52 attachable to the top wall 36 of the heat exchange chamber and fitted in the air inlet opening 37.

The sealed combustion unit 40 is generally known in the art and only general reference need be made thereto sufficient for a general understanding of the construction. The unit includes a sealed casing 60 mounting a burner assembly 61 in the lower end thereof, with combustion gases flowing upwardly and outwardly through a duct 62 associated with a vent cap assembly, indicated generally at 63, and with this construction being adjustable to accommodate various wall thicknesses with which the fireplace is associated. Combustion air enters from the outside through a passage 64 and through a duct 65 concentric with the duct 62 and then flows through a downwardly extending duct assembly 66 where the combustion air enters the sealed combustion unit. The unit includes a removable access door 70 which is accessible through a removable access door 71 in the heat exchange chamber wall 35.

The air duct assembly 66, which directs combustion air to the combustion unit, is positioned between the combustion unit casing 60 and the rear wall 20 to insulate the rear of the fireplace. A shielding panel 75 disposed between casing 60 and the air duct assembly 66 further insulates the back of the fireplace.

The hood 12 for the fireplace has an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front wall and a pair of rearwardly extending side walls 81 and 82. The hood is removably attached to the rear wall 20 to enclose the components for heating and blowing warm air and contributes to the overall decorative effect of the fireplace. The top of the hood 12 is provided with louvers 85 whereby cool air can enter the interior of the fireplace for flow past the combustion unit 40 and subsequent emission from the discharge outlet 11 at the lower part of the fireplace and thereby replace the cooler air in the room near the floor of the room. The air, after flowing past the combustion unit 40, contacts the top wall 29 of the log display area and the back wall 27 thereof to impart heat to said surfaces which contributes to the overall heating effect of the fireplace.

For decorative purposes, the log display area can have an electric log set positioned therein, as shown in the drawings.

In installation of the fireplace, the hood 12 is removed therefrom and the remainder of the unit is fastened to the wall and with suitable connections being made to the vent cap assembly 63. Electrical and gas connections are also made and the hood 12 can then be positioned, as shown in the drawings, to close off the components positioned above the log display area. In the event that service is required, it is only necessary to remove the hood l2 and, if necessary to have access to the burner assembly 61, the doors 70 and 71 can be opened as permitted by removal of the hood.

We claim:

1 A fireplace comprising: a back wall having means for mounting of the fireplace on a building wall; a heat exchange chamber defined by a portion of said back wall, a front wall spaced from the back wall, side walls extended between the front and back walls, a top wall with an air inlet therein, and a bottom wall sloping downwardly and rearwardly with an air outlet; a log display area at the lower part of the fireplace and beneath said sloping bottom wall and defined by walls including said sloping bottom wall and a rear wall spaced from said back wall; a heated air passage extending from said air outlet to a front discharge outlet beneath said log display area and including a passage between said rear and back walls whereby said sloping bottom wall and rear wall are warmed by heated air and form radiant heat surfaces directed toward the room in which the fireplace is mounted; said front discharge outlet being approximately equal in width to the log display area whereby heated air discharge simulates heat emitted from a fireplace; a sealed gas combustion unit in said chamber and having concentric ducts passing through said back wall for communication with the outside for inward flow of combustion air and outward flow of combustion gases; blower means above the log display area for inducing air flow downwardly through said chamber and air passage; and a removable hood having a front and rearwardly extending sides to close off the space above the log display area and to provide access to said blower means and said combustion unit. 

1. A fireplace comprising: a back wall having means for mounting of the fireplace on a building wall; a heat exchange chamber defined by a portion of said back wall, a front wall spaced from the back wall, side walls extended between the front and back walls, a top wall with an air inlet therein, and a bottom wall sloping downwardly and rearwardly with an air outlet; a log display area at the lower part of the fireplace and beneath said sloping bottom wall and defined by walls including said sloping bottom wall and a rear wall spaced from said back wall; a heated air passage extending from said air outlet to a front discharge outlet beneath said log display area and including a passage between said rear and back walls whereby said sloping bottom wall and rear wall are warmed by heated air and form radiant heat surfaces directed toward the room in which the fireplace is mounted; said front discharge outlet being approximately equal in width to the log display area whereby heated air discharge simulates heat emitted from a fireplace; a sealed gas combustion unit in said chamber and having concentric ducts passing through said back wall for communication with the outside for inward flow of combustion air and outward flow of combustion gases; blower means above the log display area for inducing air flow downwardly through said chamber and air passage; and a removable hood having a front and rearwardly extending sides to close off the space above the log display area and to provide access to said blower means and said combustion unit. 